Display device



May 7, 1929. o. SAMMINIATELLI 1,711,858

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 5/ M" 7 V i V/asie sammznzaidilimvzmoa WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES ORESTE SAMMINIATELLT, OF EAST TOLEDO, OHIO.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application filed March 21, 1928. Serial No. 263,454.

This invention relates to electrical display devices and is an improvement upon the display device disclosed in my copending applications Serial Nos. 237 ,278 and 237,279, filed December 2, 1927.

An object of the invention is to provide a display device which may be detachably mounted upon an ordinary electric fan and used simultaneously with the use of the fan, and which will also permit of the independent use of the fan without removing the de vice.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for housing and mounting the operating mechanism of the display device, whereby the mechanism may be readily mounted upon the housing of a fan motor, together with novel means for mounting the driving mechanism for the device.

lViththe above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation showing the invention applied to an electric fan of the oscillating type. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of one face of the plug member of the electric connector.

Figure 6 is a like view of the socket member.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the members shown in Figures 5 and 6, the parts being separated.

V Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view 011 the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a detail elevation of the ratchet switch.

Figure 10 is a like view of th contact 50 block.

Figure 11 is a view looking at the reverse side of the block shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view showing the drive connection for the switch.

5 Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention is shown as applied to an electric fan whose motor is located within a motor housing 15 supported upon a pedestal 16, the fan 17 being positioned within a guard 18. The fan is of the oscillating type, the oscillating mechanism being positioned within a housing 19 and being connected to the motor housing 15 in the usual or any preferred manner as shown at 20. All of the foregoing is of the usual type of oscillating fan.

The invention provides means for attaching a display device and its operating mechanism upon the motor housing of the fan and for driving the operating mechanism of the display device by means of the fan motor. For this purpose there is provided a housing 21 which is adapted to be mounted upon top of the motor housing 15 and for this purpose is provided with oppositely extending feet 22 which are secured to the housing 15 by screws 23. The housing 21 is provided at one end with an extension 21 and atthe other end with an extension 21, which, in effect form a part of the housing 21 and carry bearings 24 for a hollow shaft 25. This shaft extends beyond the housing extension 21 and has secured thereon an insulating block 26.

The shaft 25 has mounted thereon an insulating sleeve 27 and mounted upon this sleeve and separated by insulating disks 28 are collector rings 29 which are engaged by brushes 30. The brushes 30 are mounted in an insulating stand 31 which is secured as shown at 32 to the top of the motor housing 15. The brushes 30 are connected by means of corn ductors 33 with contact members 34 which are carried by a contact block 35, the contact members 34 extending through the block 35 in the path of a switch arm 36. The arm 36 is carried by an insulating disk 37 which is mounted upon an insulating sleeve 38, the latter being in turn mounted upon a stub shaft or post 40 which is carried by the block 35. Secured to the disk 37 is a ratchet wheel 41 and mounted upon the sleeve 38 is the socketed hub 42 of an arm 43, the latter carrying a spring influenced dog 44. The switch arm 36 is preferably formed of resilient material so as to engage the contacts 34 and is assisted in such engagement by means of a spring 45 which is mounted upon the socketed hub 42. This spring also serves to force the parts into proper contacting engagement. A housing 46 encloses the mechanism just described. In addition, a spring influenced holding dog 47 is mounted upon an arm 48 which is carried by the block The arm 36 is connected with a binding post 36 to which is connected a conductor 36, and the latter may have suitable connection with the source of current.

Secured upon the socketed hub 42 is an arm 49, while pivotally secured to the outer end of this arm is one end of arod 50. The opposite end of this rod is mounted upon a pin 51 which is carried by a disk 52 mounted at the outer end of a shaft 53. This shaft is driven from the shaft 54 of the fan motor through the medium of a worm drive 55.

The display device may be of any suitable character, for example, of the type shown in my applications above referred to. The device includes a plurality of lamps 56 which are mounted upon a frame having rad ally disposed arms 57. These arms extend from a hub 58 and this hub carries or forms a part of an insulating block The block 59 carries contact extensions 60 which are connected by means of conductors 61 with the different lamps 56.

The block 26 which is carried by the hollow shaft 25 is provided with a plurality of sockets 62 having contacts 63 at their inner ends and these contacts are connected to the collector rings 29 by means of conductors 64. By reference to Figure 7 of the drawings it will be seen that when the contacts 60 are positioned within the sockets 62 to engage the contacts 63, an electrical coupling will be provided between the collector rings 29 and the lamps 56. The parts are removably held in position by means of a screw 65.

For the purpose of rotating the shaft 25 there is provided a friction gear which may be formed by the member 59. This gear is adapted to be engaged by a friction'gear 66 which is mounted for rotation at one end of a bell. crank lever 67. the latter being pivotally supported as shown at 68. The other arm of the lever 67 is engaged with one end of a' rod 69 which is threaded throughout the major portion of its length and has its threaded portion engaged with a bracket 70.

' A spring 71 is mounted upon the rod 69 between the end of the bell crank 67-and the stop 72 provided upon the rod. The spring 71 acts to yieldingly force the gear 66 into engagement with the gear 59 and with a friction pinion 73 mounted upon the shaft of the fan motor. By adjusting the rod 69, frictional contact may be regulated, or, the gear 66 may be moved out of engagement with the gear 59 and pinion 73, so that the fan may operate without rotating the display device.

The lamps 53 may be arranged in any variety of colors. For example, they may be blue, yellow, white, red, etc. and the contacts 34 may be so connected as to illuminate one or a combination of colors. Operation of the fan 17, will, through the gearing described, rotate the shaft 25, so that current from a suitable source will illuminate the lamps 56 in accordance with the position of the arm 36. For example, rotation of the shaft 25 will impart an oscillatory movement to the arm 49 due to the eccentric connection between the bar 50 and the shaft 53. This oscillation of the arm 59 will impart a step by step movement to the ratchet arm 43 which carries the dog 44, and as the latter engages the ratchet wheel 41, this wheel will be rotated and will carry with it the arm 36. Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, two of the arms of the display device which carry red lamps will be illuminated, as will be seen by reference to Figure 11. Further movement of the switch arm 36 will cause this arm to bridge one of the contacts for the red lamps and one of the contacts for the green lamps, so that two red arms and two green arms will be illuminated. A further movement of the arm 36 will illuminate only two green arms, while a still further movement will illuminate two green arms and two yellow arms. A variety of colors will thus be displayed.

The invention is adapted for many uses. For example, itmay be used as a window or store display and will attract ready attention, the same current which operates the fan being 95 also used to rotate the display device. This renders it useful as a window display while the fan is being used to stir up and agitate the air in a store or other room. The invention will also form an attractive ornament 100 and for this reason is useful at Christmas and Fourth of July and other celebrations, and upon many other occasions.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor 105 details of construction and the right is herein reserved. to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In combination with an electric fan, a. housing mounted upon the motor housing of said fan, a shaft supported in bearings within the first mentioned housing, a display device mounted upon the shaft and including 115 a plurality of electric devices, means to drive the shaft from the fan motor and means controlled by the operation of the shaft to distribute current to said electric devices.

2. In combination with an electric fan, a

housing mounted upon the motor housing of said fan, a shaft supported in bearings within the first lnentionel housing, a display device mounted upon the shaft and including a plurality of electric devices, means to drive the shaft, collector rings mounted upon the shaft and adapted to receive current from a suitable source, means electrically connecting the rings with the electric devices, and means mounted upon the first mentioned c n I b 111g operatively connecting sald shaft and the shaft of the fan motor, a display device mounted upon the housing shaft and including a plurality of electric devices, and means operated by the housing shaft to control the supply of current to the electric display devices.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ORESTE SAMMINIATELLI. 

